At two pounds, the Boomtube is more of a luggable than a portable, but that becomes less important when you hear this twist-apart cylindrical speaker system pump out good-quality sound at high volume levels. It doesn't have a room-shaking low-end, but it's still a great choice for LAN parties, notebook gaming, or lawn events.

The Boomtube EX is a juiced-up version of the original Boomtube that adds a bass unit, rechargeable lithium ion batteries, and two 24-watt digital ampli-fiers. It's also heavier and costs twice as much, but it's just as easy to toss in a backpack, boasts flatter frequency response, and generates even more outrageous volume levels.